Airbus and Lindo explore in-flight disinfection technology for HEMS cabins

Airbus Helicopters and Australian health technology company Lindo have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly explore the use of antimicrobial blue light (aBL) disinfection systems within helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) platforms across Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

The collaboration will focus on research and development into continuous cabin disinfection technology designed to operate safely while crews and patients remain on board, addressing infection control challenges in high-turnover air medical environments.

Under the agreement, the companies will undertake feasibility studies, system integration work and validation of aBL lighting systems for potential future certification on Airbus helicopter platforms.

HEMS aircraft often operate under tight operational timelines with limited opportunities for deep cleaning between missions, creating interest in technologies capable of providing ongoing pathogen reduction without disrupting clinical operations.

Robert Gangi, CEO and Founder of Lindo, said: “By investigating how occupant-safe disinfection technologies can be integrated into next-generation aeromedical platforms, we are taking a meaningful step toward reducing pathogen transmission in critical care transport, while maintaining the operational efficiency these missions require.”

Christian Venzal, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, said the project represented an opportunity to look beyond aircraft performance alone and focus on improving the onboard clinical environment for patients and crews.

Lindo’s research and development program is being supported by the Victorian Government and conducted alongside industrial design company Marker Design.

In Australia and New Zealand, Airbus platforms, including the H125, H135, H145, and H175, are widely used across air medical and rescue services.